Man City sold their own Rooney for £1m, now he's worth more than Reijnders

Since the Abu Dhabi takeover almost two decades ago now, Manchester City’s academy has become one of England’s ultimate talent factories.

This has obvious massive benefits, Phil Foden very much the poster boy for their home-grown talents, but this does mean Man City often regret losing superstar youngsters who are not given a chance and then go on to flourish elsewhere.

Cole Palmer is the most prominent example of this while, at Chelsea alone, Tosin Adarabioyo, Roméo Lavia and Liam Delap were all let go by the Sky Blues when they were younger.

However, there is one star in particular, allowed to leave as a 21 year old for just £1m, now shinning in the Premier League, who would certainly improve Pep Guardiola’s first team.

Tijjani Reijnders' start to life at Manchester City

Tijjani Reijnders joined Manchester City from AC Milan in June for a reported fee of £46.5m, thrust straight into action, starting three of the Sky Blues’ four matches at the Club World Cup.

Once the proper football returned, he stood out on the opening day of the Premier League season too, scoring as the Citizens demolished Wolves 4-0 at Molineux.

Overall, the Dutch international has started all eight of Man City’s Premier League and Champions League fixtures to date, with the table below underlining his importance.

Minutes

715

1st

Goals

1

3rd

Assists

3

1st

Shots

22

2nd

Shots on target

7

2nd

Completed passes

369

2nd

Progressive passes

33

2nd

Shot-creating actions

22

2nd

Touches

503

2nd

Ball recoveries

28

2nd

As the table outlines, Reijnders has played more minutes than any other Manchester City player this season, ranked in the top two for a wide variety of metrics, behind only Erling Braut Håland in terms of shots, while only Rodri ranks higher for passes, touches and ball recoveries.

However, a Manchester City academy graduate, who did not make a single appearance for the first team, is currently starring for a Premier League rival, actually worth even more than Reijnders.

Manchester City's forgotten academy graduate

Morgan Rogers joined Manchester City from West Bromwich Albion in 2019, winning the FA Youth Cup with the Sky Blues, scoring in the final against Chelsea, featuring 25 times for the club’s under-21s, most notably featuring in five EFL Trophy fixtures.

However, nowhere near a first-team breakthrough, he was loaned out to Lincoln City and then Bournemouth, before being sold to Middlesbrough for around £1m.

Well, after just 33 appearances for Boro, he had impressed to such an extent that Aston Villa signed him in January 2024, costing a reported fee of £8m, potentially rising to £15m, with Man City benefiting from a 25% sell-on clause, which appears to be an absolute bargain.

Last season, Rogers scored 14 goals and registered 16 assists across all competitions for the Villans, with former England manager Glenn Hoddle describing him as “like a [Wayne] Rooney” for his strength, while Phil McNulty of BBC Sport praised his ‘star quality and vast potential’.

This form saw him awarded the PFA Young Player of the Year, only the fifth Aston Villa player to claim the accolade, after Andy Gray (1977), Gary Shaw (1981), Ashley Young (2009) and James Milner (2010).

Thus, in the summer, the Telegraph reported that Villa valued the England international at around £80m, while Football Transfers estimated his current value to be £58.3m, around £3m higher than Reijnders, who was sold by AC Milan for just £46.5m.

In summary, while Man City may earn up to £3.75m through Rogers’ sell-on clause, they could’ve yielded so much more had they given him a chance and, if that had been the case, who knows, he could have been starring for this inconsistent Guardiola side right now.

Forget Nico: Pep must drop "world class" Man City star who lost the ball 12x

Following Manchester City’s 2-2 draw with Monaco in the Champions League, a “world class” star, not just Nico González, cost them as Stade Louis II.

ByBen Gray Oct 2, 2025

He wanted to join City: Liverpool have already sold an Isak-esque talent

On Sunday afternoon, Alexander Isak will sit on the bench at Burnley’s Turf Moor. Perhaps he will be introduced in the second half, playing 20 or 30 minutes of football for his new club, Liverpool.

The main thing is that Liverpool prevailed in their summer-stretching bid to sign Newcastle United’s talisman, completing the highly-charged transfer on deadline day for a British-record £125m fee, not long after the Reds had broken the previous record when signing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m.

Liverpool’s summer spending spree was conducted with the view from the FSG offices that it would be something of a one-off, a remarkable statement of strength that would secure Anfield’s future for many years to come.

And though some felt the deal was somewhat unnecessary after Hugo Ekitike joined from Eintracht Frankfurt earlier in the summer, it was absolutely right that Liverpool pushed hard to land the signature of one of Europe’s most dangerous forwards.

How Isak compares to Premier League strikers

Liverpool spent more this summer than any team had spent before across a single transfer window, and now Arne Slot’s side are expected to deliver: they must defend their Premier League title; they must battle against the continent’s finest for a seventh Champions League triumph.

Isak will help in the pursuit of all that. The 25-year-old scored 27 times for Newcastle last season and has emerged over the past few years as one of the best strikers in world football, so intelligent and influential and clinical in front of goal.

Mohamed Salah is known for his success in the final third, but Isak has actually been scoring at a more prolific rate since joining Newcastle from Real Sociedad in 2022, and the overload of creative quality at Slot’s disposal suggests the Swede will only go from strength to strength on Merseyside.

Erling Haaland

100

88 (0.88)

Mohamed Salah

111

67 (0.60)

Alexander Isak

86

54 (0.63)

Ollie Watkins

115

50 (0.43)

Chris Wood

95

39 (0.41)

Bryan Mbeumo

101

39 (0.39)

However, as already suggested, there are some who maybe feel that a record-breaking bid for Isak was superfluous, especially with Slot already having an Isak-esque talent in the ranks.

Liverpool already sold an Isak-esque talent

Sadio Mane was considered an irreplaceable part of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, and he was, but FSG hit the jackpot in signing a positional successor in Luis Diaz, who proved instrumental in winning a horde of silverware across his three-and-a-half years at the club.

A left-sided forward by trade, Diaz was regarded as a “magical” player by the likes of Liverpool reporter Matt Addison, not quite hitting the same clinical heights as Mane before him but still contributing crucially throughout his spell at the club.

And last year was his best of the bunch, posting 17 goals and eight assists across the campaign. While consistent performances as a striker were bound to raise his output, Diaz still played the role extremely well, never goal-hanging and instead adding a dimension to Liverpool’s build-up play and altogether widening the scope for the likes of Salah and Cody Gakpo, who both enjoyed terrific campaigns in front of goal.

Long regarded as one of the most electric and direct wingers in the Premier League, Slot opted to refashion Diaz into a centre-forward last season, with Darwin Nunez toiling in front of goal.

And the results reinforced that decision, just one of a myriad of tactical enforcements that have established Slot as a Premier League champion and “one of the best coaches” in the world, as remarked by analyst Joe Baker.

Isak arrives at Liverpool as an upgrade in regard to being a centre-forward, but Diaz offered something very distinctive, a blend of sharp-paced athleticism and nifty tricks on the ball, all translatable to an unnatural berth at number nine.

After all, Diaz ranked among the top 3% of positional peers in the Premier League last season for non-penalty goals scored per 90, statistics courtesy of data-led platform FBref.

This much-improved focus in the final third, combined with a dynamic approach to the physical side of the game, led FBref to liken Diaz to Newcastle’s Isak, who had been named by pundit Ally McCoist as being “the best all-round centre-forward” in England.

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland might have more of a predatory instinct in front of goal, but you can see why Liverpool invested such an effort into signing Isak, who brings more to the table, who will carry something of Diaz’s style of play through the campaign.

Diaz was an immense and perhaps even underrated member of a multi-title-winning Liverpool side, but he appeared to have been pining for a transfer, first looking toward Barcelona and then Manchester City and the Saudi Pro League too, before eventually completing a move to Bayern Munich, where he is thriving.

It’s the news that Pep Guardiola’s side had come close to signing him that perhaps rankles some within the Reds fanbase, with Liverpool proposing to the Sky Blues a scenario in which City signed the Colombia international and Liverpool got Julian Alvarez in return upon realising that Diaz wanted to join their domestic rivals.

Diaz’s desire to leave Liverpool and join a domestic rival underscores a further similarity between his case and that of Slot’s new focal frontman, and let’s just be grateful that he was at least willing to remain at the club and continue to ply dutifully toward the outfit’s goals.

The versatile forward, in any case, served Liverpool extremely well, and though he carried some similarities to Isak, there’s no question that Liverpool fans and those involved at the club will consider the arrival of the Sweden star a significant upgrade and a fantastic deal, even though Isak’s signature came at such a premium.

FSG have already sold Liverpool's homegrown Zubimendi for just £15m

Former Liverpool player is now starring as a deep-lying playmaker reminiscent of Zubimendi.

ByWill Miller Sep 12, 2025

Amorim can save his Man Utd job by using "£100m + footballer" in a 4-3-3

Disappointment, frustration and false hope are undoubtedly the best ways to describe the current situation at Manchester United football at present.

The younger generation of supporters will likely have followed in their loved one’s footsteps in following the Red Devils, but many won’t have seen the success achieved in years gone by.

Sir Alex Ferguson put the club on the map with his near 27-year stint in charge, leaving Old Trafford as a footballing legend given his tally of 16 top-division titles.

The Scotsman gave the fanbase a reason to be proud of following the club, subsequently helping them achieve the global status they currently possess.

However, it’s not been all plain sailing for everyone involved at the Theatre of Dreams in recent years, currently enduring a 12-year drought without a Premier League title.

Such a spell doesn’t appear to be coming to an end anytime soon, especially if the man currently leading the side doesn’t change his current philosophy on the field.

The failures of Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system

Back in November, huge excitement was built up within the United fanbase after Ruben Amorim took the reins following the dismissal of Erik ten Hag a few weeks prior.

He won the Liga Portugal title back in the 2023/24 campaign, doing so with a 3-4-2-1 system, which he also brought with him after making the move to Old Trafford.

It was a radical change from the 4-2-3-1 often utilised by former Red Devils managers, but it’s one that has failed to change their fortunes on the pitch since his appointment.

The 40-year-old has only achieved a measly 38% win percentage in the role, winning just eight Premier League games, which resulted in the club’s 15th-placed finish in 2024/25.

Amorim’s fortunes haven’t changed in the new season, only winning one of the last four outings and even losing the most recent outing against local rivals Manchester City.

He also spoke out after the defeat, with huge questions being asked about his current system, but insisted he won’t be moving away from his current philosophy.

However, it’s clear that after 47 matches in charge, he’s been unable to transform the squad, desperately needing a change in system if he is to save his job in the coming weeks.

The player who Amorim must unleash in a system change

Much has been made about the lack of success at United over recent years, but fingers have been pointed to the way of the manager and the hierarchy, given the poor recruitment.

Rasmus Hojlund was Amorim’s number one centre-forward option last campaign, but massively failed to deliver, only scoring four times in the Premier League throughout his 32 appearances.

The Dane was subsequently moved on during the summer transfer window, leaving on loan to join Serie A side Napoli – with the deal potentially turning into a permanent one next summer.

However, he’s already hit the ground running for Antonio Conte’s side, scoring on his debut against Fiorentina last weekend – which could indicate that he was held back by Amorim’s system.

Another player who’s suffered since Amorim’s arrival is academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo, with his career massively stagnating over the last couple of months.

The 20-year-old burst onto the scene in 2023/24, registering 35 appearances in all competitions and finding the net five times from his deep-lying midfield position.

Goals against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City in the FA Cup were memorable moments for the youngster, but also ones that made him a regular starter under Ten Hag.

He was even included in England’s Euro 2024 squad, making six appearances throughout the tournament, which led to Alex Turk labelling him a “£100m-plus footballer”.

However, Mainoo has only been restricted to 22 starts in the last 12 months, none of which have come in the early stages of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.

As a result of his lack of action, the player requested a loan move during the summer, but it was rejected – a decision that could prove to be a blessing in disguise if Amorim changes his system.

A 4-3-3 formation could allow the Red Devils to have more solidity in the middle of the park, with Mainoo able to regain regular minutes in a trio alongside Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte.

His reduced minutes last season restricted his progress, but the youngster managed to produce some impressive figures, which highlight his ability to play in a box-to-box role.

Kobbie Mainoo – PL stats (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

25

Minutes played

1656

Pass accuracy

87%

Chances created

1.7

Successful dribbles

1.3

Tackles won

63%

Duels won

5.9

Interceptions made

1.2

Recoveries made

4.8

Stats via FotMob

He created 1.7 chances per 90 and completed 1.7 dribbles per 90, subsequently allowing him to develop the ball into forward areas and find the new £200m trio at the top end of the pitch.

Mainoo also won 63% of the tackles he entered, making 1.2 interceptions alongside such a tally – showcasing his ability to regain possession and have a positive impact at both ends.

If he can replicate such numbers in a system change, there’s no reason as to why he can’t once again be a key component in any future success at Old Trafford.

However, the main focus at present will be on the managerial situation, with Amorim desperately needing to move away from his current philosophy if the club are to overturn their dismal ongoing slump.

Amorim can save his job by axing Man Utd flop who is this season's Onana

Ruben Amorim is certainly facing the sack at Manchester United if he doesn’t change their fortunes.

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 16, 2025

'Terrible idea' – Spurs fans fume as building work continues on massive 29-storey, 180 room hotel right next to Tottenham Hotspur stadium

Tottenham supporters have continued to vent their frustration as work on a massive hotel springs up next to their ground, which they claim will block the view of their home for those visiting the stadium. The building will also block the skyline view of London’s famous landmarks for fans inside the ground looking south into the capital.

  • Big plans for hotel development

    The Northumberland Development Project (NDP) includes a Hotel and Residential Tower located just south of the stadium. It was originally approved as a 22-storey building, but plans for the tower were resubmitted and received approval from Haringey Council in December 2023 and the Greater London Authority in March 2024 for a 30-story structure. Construction began in August last year, with a target completion date of June 2028, aligning with the Euro 2028 games, which the stadium will host. The building, designed by F3 Architects, features a distinctive slender, blade-like appearance and will house a 180-room hotel, 49 residential apartments, and 64 car park spaces. It is envisioned as a 4-star lifestyle concept hotel and is expected to become the third-largest conference venue in London. The project also aims to benefit the local community through employment and training initiatives in the hospitality sector.

  • Advertisement

  • Getty Images Sport

    Tottenham fans dismayed at building progress

    Tottenham fan Chris Cowlin, who regularly posts videos about the club, said: “HOTEL UPDATE: Next to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: 29-storey hotel, designed by F3 Architects. It is currently under construction with a planned completion date of June 2028.

    All the responses to the video are negative, including from @footfishbike, who said: "Ruining the view of the stadium. Terrible idea."

    Elsewhere, @ThingsTottenham added: "Will ruin the stunning view coming down the high road, not a fan of the positioning of it at all."

    Continuing the theme of the impact the building will have on the view of the impressive ground, @__LaFlamee said: “So it’s going to obstruct the view of the stadium nice."

    And @clyne_mar said: “A high rise hotel, just yards from the spot where our great club was founded. 🙁” 

    Finally, @Saucysausage666 added: “There used to be a football club there once 😡”

    Here's how the works, which are still in their infancy, look: 

  • What other plans are there for around the stadium?

    The NDP aims to regenerate the surrounding area. This includes not only the stadium itself, which boasts innovative features like a retractable pitch for both football and NFL games, but also significant residential and infrastructure developments. Plans feature four high-rise residential towers near the stadium, ranging from 19 to 35 storeys, offering up to 585 apartments. A series of three-storey townhouses are also included in the designs. These developments are part of a broader High Road West regeneration scheme which includes a major redevelopment of the White Hart Lane site masterplanned by Allies & Morrison. The stadium and surrounding projects are intended to be a catalyst for a 20-year regeneration plan for Tottenham. Improvements to public spaces, transport links like step-free access at White Hart Lane station, and a focus on generating jobs and supporting local businesses are also key components of this long-term vision.

  • ENJOYED THIS STORY?

    Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

  • Getty Images Sport

    Fans can make their own mind up this weekend

    Spurs host Aston Villa this weekend where a win will maintain their position in the top four, but their recent home record is diabolical. Tottenham have won just three of their last 17 Premier League home games, following the dreadful spell under previous boss Ange Postecoglou. And there’s more bad news as boss Thomas Frank has never beaten Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side in the Premier League in five attempts, having drawn two and lost three, all with Brentford.

How Liverpool perform without Alisson as Arsenal title race advantage shared after new injury

Whilst Alisson Becker is unquestionably the best goalkeeper that Liverpool have ever had in the Premier League, there’s no denying that his unique injury history have left the Reds short at times. It’s something that Jurgen Klopp had to deal with almost every season and something that Arne Slot now has to handle following the Brazilian’s latest hamstring setback.

The Liverpool manager confirmed the news of the injury that Alisson suffered against Galatasaray and the extent of it, telling reporters ahead of the trip to Chelsea: “I’d be surprised if Alisson’s ready for first game after international break.”

The good news for Liverpool is that they should be used to being without their goalkeeper, but to say that they’ve had some mixed results in his absence in previous seasons would be an understatement.

So, with title rivas Arsenal about to embark on an ‘easier’ run of fixtures by all accounts, do the Gunners now have the upper hand or will the Reds survive with Giorgi Mamardashvili between the sticks?

2019/20: Alisson absent for 18 games Adrian fumbles on biggest stage

Although many will remember the 2019/20 season for how the Covid-19 put a stop to football altogether before Liverpool lifted their first Premier League title, there will still be fans who remember it for Adrian’s Champions League horror show against Atletico Madrid.

Filling in for Alisson, who missed three games with a hip injury not long after he missed 15 games through a calf injury in the same campaign, Adrian gift-wrapped Marcos Llorente’s equalising goal in extra-time as Atletico Madrid advanced in dramatic fashion.

Had Alisson been fit and ready to face Atletico Madrid, Anfield could have enjoyed another Champions League night to remember in a season that they were at their very best under Jurgen Klopp.

2020/21: Alisson misses 10 games Adrian's struggles continue in thrashing at Villa

As football recommenced under Covid-19 protocols, Liverpool and the rest of the Premier League were forced to get used to empty stadiums and what felt like meaningless games at times.

One thing didn’t change for the Reds, however, and that was Alisson’s injury problems. This time, he added to the Reds’ woes by missing 10 games – including five through a shoulder injury and three courtesy of another hip injury.

Once again, it was Adrian who was forced to step up and once again, Liverpool paid the price in full. This time, they found themselves on the end of one of the most shocking results in Premier League history as Aston Villa battered them 7-2 in the Midlands.

2023/24: Alisson injured for 15 games after another hamstring issue Kelleher steps up for Liverpool

By the time that the 2023/24 campaign arrived and Alisson suffered his next injury setback – missing 15 games through a hamstring problem – Caoimhin Kelleher was ready to step up. The Adrian days were over and the Reds finally had a reliable backup to turn to, who enjoyed some excellent form.

Kelleher in 23/24

PL Record

Games

10

Wins

8

Draws

2

Defeats

0

Clean Sheets

2

The Irishman enjoyed an unbeaten Premier League run and even played the role of hero as Liverpool defeated Chelsea 1-0 after extra-time in the Carabao Cup. For the first time, Alisson’s absence was not a major concern for those at Anfield.

2024/25: Trend of hamstring problems continue for Alisson Kelleher called upon once again

In this two-year period, Kelleher staked his claim as one of the best backup goalkeepers that the Premier League has to offer. The truth is that he was more than ready to step up to a starting role elsewhere last season and earned a move to Brentford in the summer as a result.

Alisson, meanwhile, struggled with hamstring problems once again and missed a total of 26 games as Slot won the Premier League title in his first season in charge. Without him, Liverpool’s form didn’t necessarily dip. After all, they won the Premier League title in fairly dominant fashion. But Kelleher still had moments to forget against Newcastle United and Fulham.

Truth be told, no matter how impressive the Irishman was during his time at the club and how reliable Giorgi Mamardashvili may not prove to be, it’s hard to deny that Liverpool would rather have a player of Alisson’s calibre at their disposal every week.

‘There’s absolutely no doubt’ – Inter Miami's Javier Mascherano says Lionel Messi deserves MLS MVP award

Manager Javier Mascherano says the choice is simple when it comes to the MLS MVP award: Lionel Messi. The Inter Miami star has delivered a season for the ages, with 26 goals and 15 assists in 27 matches. Messi and Miami visit Nashville SC on Saturday, looking to lock up second place in the Eastern Conference and keep their title push alive.

'He makes everyone enjoy the game'

During his press conference ahead of Saturday’s match against Nashville SC, the Argentine coach praised Messi’s impact and influence on Inter Miami’s season.

“I think there’s absolutely no doubt. Even though he’s played far fewer games than the others, Leo’s influence on the team is unmatched. If you measure him by numbers, he’s the best – but he goes beyond stats. What he shows on the field, what he does for the team, and how he makes everyone enjoy the game, that’s something special,” Mascherano said on Friday.

Messi is currently leading MLS in both scoring, with 26 goals, and is tied at the top of the assist leaders with San Diego's Anders Dreyer at 18. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMessi and De Paul ready to face Nashville

The coach confirmed that both  Messi and Rodrigo De Paul will be available for the trip to Nashville, while David Ruiz and Allen Obando remain out. 

“Santi Morales felt a bit of discomfort after a knock on his knee, so he’ll train separately today. Almost everyone’s available," he said. "We expect a tough match – Nashville just won the Open Cup. We’re fighting to climb up the table, and they depend on themselves, but we’ll approach it with the same mindset as always – to do our job.” 

Getty Images SportBattling for second place

Mascherano also underlined the importance of the matchup, due to creating momentum and potentially a better playoff seed. 

“It’s a big game for everyone, not just for Leo. The team is confident and in good shape," he said. "We want to finish the regular season strong, and if that also helps Leo win the MVP, even better. We’re focused on closing out in the best way possible.”

Inter Miami need a win and a Cincinnati slip-up to have a chance at finishing second in the Eastern Conference.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportStarting goalkeeper remains undecided

Mascherano acknowledged there is an open competition at the goalkeeper position, considering some struggles by Oscar Ustari during the season. Rocco Ríos Novo has been given an opportunity to impress, and the 23-year-old has three clean sheets in six starts. 

“You’ll see the starter tomorrow. We decided to give Rocco a chance in the last few games – we hadn’t seen him compete when both keepers were fully fit. He responded really well, so that internal competition is welcome," Mascherano said. 

Mudança de rota! Entenda como a Sul-Americana ganhou prestígio para o Corinthians no decorrer da temporada

MatériaMais Notícias

A ida até a semifinal da Copa do Brasil empolgou o Corinthians a buscar um título nesta temporada. Fora da competição nacional, a Sul-Americana surge como possibilidade para o clube alvinegro levantar um caneco neste que é o último ano da atual administração, presidida por Duílio Monteiro Alves. Nesta terça-feira (22), o Timão recebe o Estudiantes, da Argentina, pelo jogo de ida das quartas de final do torneio continental.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansCom Rojas e Veríssimo, Corinthians atualiza lista de inscritos na Copa Sul-Americana e divulga relacionados para jogo contra o EstudiantesCorinthians21/08/2023CorinthiansCorinthians consulta Conmebol e CBF sobre possibilidade de adiar partida contra o EstudiantesCorinthians21/08/2023CorinthiansCorinthians x Estudiantes: onde assistir, horário e escalações do jogo pelas quartas de final da Sul-AmericanaCorinthians21/08/2023

O técnico Vanderlei Luxemburgo já usou a Sul-Americana como laboratório para os garotos, escalando um time misto e agora, a cinco jogos da conquista inédita, levará a campo o que tem de melhor contra o time de La Plata, na Neo Química Arena.

+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

Até mesmo a ida corintiana ao campeonato entre clubes da América do Sul foi colocada em xeque quando o treinador optou por escalar um time completamente alternativo na última rodada da fase de grupos da Libertadores, contra o Liverpool, do Uruguai. Ainda que eliminado com uma derrota para o Independiente del Valle, do Equador, no jogo anterior, um empate em casa diante dos uruguaios daria a terceira colocação do grupo E para o Time do Povo, que confirmou o favoritismo, venceu por 3 a 0 e garantiu espaço nos playoffs da Sul-Americana.

continua após a publicidade

E os garotos do Timão tiveram duas novas oportunidades de mostrarem serviço nos duelos contra o Universitario, do Peru, já pela Sul-Americana. Mais uma vez com a garotada e vivenciando um ambiente muito hostil em Lima, no jogo de volta, o clube alvinegro passou de fase e deu importância ao campeonato. Já nos compromissos seguintes, contra o Newell’s Old Boys, pelas oitavas de final, a estratégia foi diferente, a de usar o time misto, preservando somente os atletas com a parte física mais comprometida.

Agora, nas quartas de final, o Corinthians deve usar força total. E essa mudança de postura tem muito a ver com o desejo do presidente Duílio Monteiro Alves que, após a eliminação na Copa do Brasil, conversou com Vanderlei Luxemburgo e pediu para que o nível de priorização da Sul-Americana aumentasse para o Corinthians.

continua após a publicidade

Com a campanha de recuperação que o clube do Parque São Jorge está fazendo no Campeonato Brasileiro, onde não perde há seis partidas, a Sul-Americana vem despontando como caminho mais fácil para os alvinegros garantirem uma vaga na Libertadores e, consequentemente, também na Copa do Brasil do ano que vem. Como o torneio nacional só dará classificação com base nos estaduais, é necessário que o Timão vá para a Liberta, já que foi eliminado precocemente do Paulistão, ainda nas quartas de final.

A parte financeira também é considerada no planejamento atual. Ainda que chegar até às semis da Copa do Brasil tenha compensado a verba perdida com a desclassificação antes do previsto no Paulista e na Libertadores, a Sul-Americana tem agregado aos cofres corintianos. Até aqui, o Corinthians já embolsou 1,15 milhão de dólares (R$ 5,7 mi, na cotação atual). A classificação para a semifinal renderá mais 800 mil dólares (R$ 3,9 milhões). Em caso de título, o Time do Povo vai arrecadar 5 milhões de dólares (R$ 24,9 milhões), totalizando 6,95 milhões de dólares (R$ 34,6 mi, na cotação atual). Caso fique em segundo lugar, conquistará 2 milhões de dólares (R$ 9,9 milhões) – que, somado ao arrecadado anteriormente, ficaria em 3,95 milhões de dólares (R$ 19,6 milhões).

Ranji Trophy record-breaker Harsh Dubey replaces R Smaran at SRH

Dubey joins SRH at a time when their season is almost over, with only a mathematical chance of going through to the playoffs

ESPNcricinfo staff05-May-2025R Smaran, the 22-year-old batter from Karnataka who had replaced Adam Zampa in the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) squad, has been ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2025 after picking up an injury and has been replaced by Harsh Dubey.Dubey, also 22, is a left-arm spin-bowling allrounder who plays for Vidarbha in the domestic circuit, broke the record for the most wickets in a Ranji Trophy season ever when he picked up 69 wickets in Vidarbha’s run to the 2024-25 title. That took him one past Ashutosh Aman’s record of 68 wickets in the 2018-19 season. He joins SRH for INR 30 lakh, his base price at the last IPL auction.Even as he has made waves in the Ranji Trophy, Dubey only has moderate returns in the white-ball formats: 21 wickets from 20 bowling innings at an average of 34.66 in List A cricket and nine wickets from 16 bowling innings with an economy rate of 6.78 in T20s. His stocks have risen since the Ranji Trophy, though.He comes into the IPL with SRH’s IPL 2025 campaign all but over after they had made the final in IPL 2024. SRH have won just three of their ten games so far and are in ninth place on the points table. Even if they win their remaining four games, they can only get to 14 points, which will leave them hoping a couple of the top-performing teams get on a losing streak. But, even then, their current net run-rate of -1.192 is the poorest of the ten teams, including the already-eliminated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR).SRH’s next game is at home in Hyderabad against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Monday evening.

ميدو: لاعب بيراميدز سيكون إضافة قوية لـ الأهلي.. لكن لن يعوض معلول

علق أحمد حسام ميدو، لاعب ومدرب الزمالك السابق، على احتمالية انضمام أحد لاعبي فريق بيراميدز إلى صفوف الأهلي في الفترة المقبلة.

وقال ميدو خلال تصريحات عبر برنامج “أوضة اللبس” المذاع على قناة “النهار”: “محمد حمدي لو انضم للأهلي سيكون إضافة كبيرة جدًا حيث حصل على خبرات دولية كبيرة من خلال مشاركته مع المنتخب الوطني، وهو مجتهد ومركز في الكرة”.

طالع | ترتيب الدوري المصري بعد تعادل الأهلي مع بتروجيت

وتابع: “لا أعتقد بيراميدز سيفرط في لاعب مثل محمد حمدي، سيقدمون له كل الاغراءات اللازمة لكي يستمر معهم”.

وتعليقا على هل محمد حمدي يمكن أن يعوض رحيل علي معلول؟، كشف: “لا.. معلول لاعب مختلف وهو مفتاح لعب غير طبيعي وصعب جدًا تعويضه”.

واختتم: “تعويض لاعب مثل علي معلول لا يأتي غير كل 30 أو 40 سنة، لاعب ذكي جدًا في تحركاته داخل الملعب وخارجه ويمتلك شخصية، لديه بعض المشاكل الدفاعية العكسية وهذا طبيعي”.

Sunderland's 8/10 star is fast becoming as important as Xhaka & Roefs

While Nottingham Forest try to grow accustomed to Ange Postecoglou in the City Ground dug-out, Sunderland look more than content with Regis Le Bris steering their own ship.

Indeed, off the back of another battling victory in the Premier League courtesy of Omar Alderete’s first-half header, Le Bris’ Black Cats find themselves sat in a dizzying third position in the current league standings, with the Frenchman looking to be the perfect fit for the Wearside outfit, even when performing up a division.

Alderete is yet another fine example of Sunderland striking gold in the transfer market, with the Paraguayan now six Premier League games down in the heart of the Black Cats’ defence without ever looking out of place.

Both Granit Xhaka and Robin Roefs also fit into this glowing assessment, with the gritty pair once again proving to be invaluable purchases this summer as more early Premier League points are accumulated.

How Xhaka and Roefs have become so important at Sunderland

Xhaka signing for Sunderland for just £17m did raise many an eyebrow this summer, with lots of outsiders looking in commenting on the top-flight newcomers winning themselves a golden bargain.

Again, he led by example against the Tricky Trees when donning the captain’s armband, with seven duels won, showing off plenty of energy centrally, while also winning three fouls to disrupt the home side’s flow and edge Sunderland ever closer to their first away win in the top-flight this campaign.

He even showed off his quality on the ball, too, when collecting his third assist of the season for Alderete to win the tight affair. But, Sunderland – again – had to thank their lucky stars defensively that they swooped in for Robin Roefs to boost their goalkeeper spot this summer.

Without the Dutchman’s timely saves, with Roefs tallying up a weighty six in total, a first win on the road would have been far trickier to collect. Amazingly, the ex-NEC Nijmegen stopper prevented 2.16 goals across the entire course of the frustrating contest for Postecoglou and Co.

With Roefs only shipping four goals all season long, Sunderland must be in dreamland at how easy he’s made the transition to English shores look.

However, he and Xhaka are not the only star performers purchased from Europe now making a name for themselves.

8/10 star is fast becoming one of Le Bris' best players

Of course, it’s unrealistic to anticipate that Sunderland will keep this unbelievable form up for the entire marathon ahead.

Yet, the early signs are clear that the Black Cats will be ready for any relegation battle that might ensue, particularly if Noah Sadiki keeps up his sensational performance levels in some dogged contests to come.

The determined number 27 shone once more against Postecoglou’s challenging hosts, with Sadiki going on to win six of his eight ground duels in the lively clash in a bid to protect the Sunderland defence.

But, much like Xhaka next to him, Sadiki also displayed flashes of his excellence when driving his team forward, misplacing just two of his 30 passes (93% success rate) on the day as a cool customer, while also completing one successful dribble when he wasn’t regularly getting stuck in.

Sadiki’s PL numbers

Stat – per 90 mins*

Sadiki

Games played

6

Games started

6

Minutes averaged

89

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches*

46.7

Accurate passes*

28.8 (86%)

Ball recoveries*

2.2

Total duels won*

3.8

Stats by Sofascore

With Habib Diarra now out with a worrying injury, too, Sadiki’s importance to the cause will have only grown from the middle of the park, with the 20-year-old instantly becoming both a fan’s favourite with the Sunderland masses and a favourite of Le Bris, as well, with these all-around showings, as seen in his overall Premier League numbers in the table above.

Gifted a high 8/10 rating post-match by Roker Report writer Andy Tomlinson, who stated that Sadiki “covered every blade of grass” when needed, it’s becoming clearer by the game now that the former Royale Union Saint-Gilloise star is one of the first names on Le Bris’ teamsheet.

He might not be as instantly headline-grabbing as Xhaka or Roefs with goals, assists, and saves aplenty.

Still, if Sadiki can keep these sublime displays coming, he will surely be remembered as yet another vital part of this Sunderland team that made Premier League survival look like a walk in the park.

Modern Henderson: New star "valued by many" can lead Sunderland to survival

Sunderland look to former Arsenal captain’s leadership as they fight for Premier League survival.

2

By
Will Miller

Sep 27, 2025

Game
Register
Service
Bonus